Now here's something I didn't know before this gig. The manics are musical marmite for a lot of people. They seem to elicit some rather passionate and surprising responses, ranging from the sort of comment that goes along the lines of "Can't believe you're going, you lucky so and so" to odd ones such as "What? You like them? I never do understand what anybody sees in them".

It seemed to me that the huge queue of people ouside the venue before the doors opened was in answer those naysayers. There was no support band. The setlist was in two halves. The first was their latest album (Journal for Plague Lovers) played in full. And the second was a bit of a trawl through the hits. It's not often that you get such generosity from any band, and this really was a special night. I've not bought Journal yet, and the first thing I love about it is the album art which is displayed above the band. I had a discussion about this with my mate. She wasn't so impressed, but I had to disagree. Jenny Saville's work is quite exceptional.

The reception in the first half to Journal for Plague lovers was understandably less voluble than that for the second half. But this was no filler material. The lyrics are all by Richey Edwards and the band finally felt that they needed to be heard. Richey himself was represented by a pink feather boa around Nicky Wire's neck throughout the evening. Speaking of Wire, he was not his usual self as he was suffering from a prolapsed disc but it's a measure of the band and their relationship with their fans that they chose to perform this, and the other two roundhouse gigs. At times, touching, at others, displaying the manic's ear for grand musical gesture, the new material delivers once more. The final song in the first half was sang by Nicky (as he does on the album).

In truth, the performance could have ended there and we'd have all gone home very happy. We went outside to have a drink and a breather on the balcony which is superb on a summer's evening. We actually enjoyed it so much, we inadvertantly missed the opening number of the second half, Motorcycle Emptiness, which was a pity. But this would have set the tone for the rest of the second half, which was a reminder to us all why we love this band so much. We love them for so many reasons - for some it's the politics and the sheer passion of every word. I have to say I'm not one of them. I shamelessly danced and jumped and sang to "You love us", because I do just love them. I know I know. I missed the point of the song. But for me (and several hundred other people) this was a celebration of their music. And what a huge list to choose from: Tsunami, La Tristesse Durera, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, Australia and You Stole The Sun From My Heart. I couldn't have wished for anything better.

Looking back at the set list for the evening, I really cannot believe they played so many songs. They finished with Design for Life, and as the lights went up and the crowd started to move out, I actually felt disappointed. Time had flown by and I wanted more. I don't think they had any more to give.

Oh and one more thing. Membership cards needed to get into the Lock Tavern afterwards? What is the world coming to?

"Hey, mate? Want to come to a gig? It's this really fantastic band I saw on the weekend. They were awesome. You should check them out"

"Sure thing buddy. I'll always go listen to a band you like. See you there."

Two things: My mate really does say things like "Sure thing buddy". But what he said after that had me in a bit of a panic. What if they really aren't as good as that? By this time, I'd written up the reviews from the first day of Foxfest, so I re-read the bit I'd written about this band, and it certainly looked good on paper. And I remembered they'd had some good tunes and a fantastic performer in the shape of Seymour, so all in all I thought I was worrying about nothing. And the gig was in another small venue, so it was bound to be OK.

So - a few hours later I walked through the doors of a surprisingly empty Dublin Castle. Having said that, I'm not sure how busy it usually gets on a Tuesday night. Somehow I'd assumed it was always full. It had actually been my local for a while as I lived right next door and in all my time living in there I'd never been in - but I always remember it being pretty busy as I walked by. But it's not my favourite venue, much less my favourite pub. I think I'd only seen one or two bands there in the past, and they weren't memorable. I think the last time I saw anyone there was at the Camden Crawl a couple of years back, but I can't remember who I saw.

I'd arrived about twenty minutes before my mate, and I saw Seymour arrive with his Dad, who'd come to see the gig tonight. He looked pretty laid back as he chatted in the bar, but what was I expecting? Him to be as manic as he was at Foxfest all the time? Still, it would have been nice to have a quick chat, but he was meeting his friends, so I didn't want to interrupt.

My mate arrived, and after catching up we went inside. We paid £5 each which is fair enough, but it doesn't half remind me what a bargain last weekend was. We stood at the back and waited for the band to get started. Well, when I say the back, there isn't much of a back to speak off at the Dublin. It's pretty tight, and there wasn't really a lot of people there to see them. So really there was a line of people standing half way back from the stage, then me, my mate and a couple of others leaning on the desk at the back. They started and something didn't feel right straight away. It was the sound. It wasn't good. Very dull and flat. Now, this wasn't the sort of band that needs that kind of treatment. My mate wasn't impressed. Can't say I was either. And it carried on - and I wasn't really getting into it at all.

I've got to admit that I was tired on the night. But I think they were too. Where they seemed spontaneous and explosive on Saturday, they seemed a little slow and ponderous tonight. But I have to say that this could easily have been more about my own state of mind. But it wasn't just me either. My mate wasn't moved as I jumped up and down to "The Air is on Fire". In fact he didn't move for the whole set.

It turns out that the band has been playing together for some time (they were all members of Miss Black America), but we both didn't know this at the time. As we left, his conclusion was "They've got some more work to do yet.". I think on the second time out for me I'd be inclined to agree.

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